Over one thousand Youths storm Ogun largest Digital Summit as Experts charge Entrepreneurs on Competency, Creativity
Posted by Ahmed Iyanda | 4 years ago | 1,089 times
In a bid to enhance digital technology and create an enabling environment for youths with innovative ideas to excel in various spheres of life in Nigeria and beyond, Grazac in collaboration with Ogun State Government has organized 2021 Digital summit held on Thursday 4th of March at June 12, Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.
The epoch event is the largest Digital Summit in Ogun State. This year’s theme ‘Competency for the Future', featured professionals, experts from the digital industry.
The Summit is borne out of the need for a platform to facilitate the convergence of great minds and coalescence of groundbreaking ideas that will shape the nation’s digital landscape, with a primary focus on youth empowerment, technology entrepreneurship and social Innovation.
Keynote speakers at the event include, Onyeka Akuma, Founder and CEO Farm Crowdy; Mohammed Jega, Founder Startup Area; Dayo Abiodun, S.A to Ogun State Governor on ICT; Daniel Adeyemi, Editor-In-Chief at Techcabal; Abel Abejo, CEO of PertySave.
Other speakers are Adekunle Owolabi, Creative Director at Nest Digital Agency; Olukayode Amedu, Founder Amfest Creative and Art Foundation; Aderenle Sonariwo, Founder, Rele Art Gallery.
Issues discussed at the Summit include; Effective Utilisation of Technology in Art, Media and Entertainment, Digital Strategies to aid Business and Startup Growth(Branding, Marketing and Storytelling), Creativity and the Future of Work.
CEO Farm Crowdy, Onyeka Akuma, while sharing his experience as a young enthusiast said, for entrepreneurs to thrive, they must read good books, read and seek knowledge when necessary. “Read about people that have failed, read about people that have succeeded, read about start-ups, these are what brings you opportunities and sustain you as an Entrepreneur,” Akuma noted.
Speaking on Growing start up digitally, Akuma said young entrepreneurs should be ready to face challenges. “In my first start-up, I experienced the darkest moment of my life, at that time, I held on to my religion, I kept my relationship with people around me. But what keeps me going, is my dedication, patience and consistency.”
“Since then, I have been able to launch other start-up like Plenty Waka and Rent Small Small.” All these, he said were borne out of Money, Integrity, Charisma, Mentor, among others.
Speaking as a panelist, Renowned Techprenuer and Founder Start Up Area, Mohammed Jega hinged on the pace at which the world is in dire need of initialization, emphasizing the emergence of COVID-19 that has fastened the acceptability of digitization in Nigeria.
While addressing the participants, Jega said Youths should get prepared ahead of the future, noting that entrepreneurs need to leverage on the benefits of social media instead of focusing on frivolities that wouldn’t bring money on the table. “Young entrepreneurs are taking action much more frequently now than ever before. This is because various social media provide a large platform for promotion of businesses. For example, many use social media to sell their product, and a personal account on Instagram or Facebook to promote their product to their friends.”
Jega added that “Once you get the best out of your product, redefine it and put it out for people to see.”
According to him, the outbreak of COVID-19 is a game changer; it has changed everything and as such one should think of post COVID-19 activities and actions that will enable one to stay afloat.
“To position themselves for a successful career, the youths being exposed to technology should take the initiative to see to it that they use the knowledge for innovation and creativity.
On her part, Aderenle Sonariwo, Founder Rele Art Gallery, who addressed the participants on Effective Utilisation of Technology in Art, Media and Entertainment enjoined young Entrepreneurs to build themselves as Creatives, adding that it is not enough to learn a skill but “what you are doing with it.”
She said one of the factors that sustain entrepreneurs are patience and consistency, which is one of the major challenges that Entrepreneurs faced in existing business. “Lack of patience and consistency affects digital start-ups,” she stated.
